Chapter 4 - Town Tavern DC

The flight from New York to DC was a short one, but Sam's banter made it feel like they had traveled to another planet."Why can't we have a world-ending crisis in Las Vegas or Tahiti? Somewhere fun where we can celebrate after we defeat whoever wants to take over the world," Sam exclaimed as they stepped off the plane.Bucky groaned, "There's no world-ending crisis, at least according to Fury," he said, slinging his bag over his shoulder.At the end of the runway, Nick Fury stood tall in his signature black coat and eye patch, holding files in his hands, waiting for the two men."Sir," Bucky said, nodding his head. Sam followed suit."Barnes... Captain..." Fury addressed them, and Sam looked down, still not accustomed to being called Captain."Follow me," Fury instructed, leading them to a waiting black Range Rover."Care to enlighten us on why we're here?" Sam asked, settling into the backseat."The world isn't ending, in case you were wondering. We had a minor security breach yesterday. They didn't manage to get anything, but I want to know who it was and what they were after. We tracked the breach to Georgetown University," Fury explained, handing them files. "We reviewed security camera footage, but there wasn't a person without a computer in sight.""I'm sorry, but you'll have to explain what a computer is to this one," Sam nudged Bucky, receiving an eye roll in response.Fury gave Sam a stern look, causing him to clear his throat and adjust his position in the seat."There's a nationwide summit in Seattle in a few days, and I've got government officials breathing down my neck to ensure this breach isn't somehow linked to it. The timing is too perfect. I need someone skilled at operating in the shadows, along with their trusty sidekick, to investigate what's going on," Fury stated."Hey! Out of me and RoboCop over here, I believe I would be better at staying in the shadows, you know, with the arm and all," Sam exclaimed, feeling offended."Sorry to say, Captain, but out of you and him, only one has come close to killing me, and that's an accomplishment in itself," Fury replied. "We're counting on you two," he concluded before exiting the vehicle at his destination.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------They had rented separate motel rooms for the night, small and dingy but suitable for maintaining a low profile. Bucky spent what felt like an hour in the shower, washing off the remnants of the plane ride. He was back in action, but this time, he was on the right side of the law.He settled down for the night with the TV playing in the background until a knock on the door startled him."Hey, we need to go... I think I found a lead," Sam said, bursting into Bucky's room."What? Really?" Bucky asked, gearing up for action."Woah, woah, we're not going in guns blazing. This is just a reconnaissance mission. Just grab your jacket and let's go," Sam said, practically running out the door.They walked a few blocks until Bucky grew suspicious."Where is this lead, Sam?" Bucky asked cautiously."Right here," Sam laughed, as they arrived outside a building with a sign that read 'Town Tavern DC.'"Why are we here, Sam?" Bucky asked, feeling defeated."To relax... talk to some ladies... you know, things that normal people do. But I guess you're not normal and don't know how to relax or talk to women," Sam laughed, opening the door and entering.Bucky sighed and followed Sam into the relatively empty sports bar. They headed straight to the bar to order their drinks. Football games played on multiple screens, and bartenders mixed cocktails—a far cry from Bucky's drinking days."I'll have you know I was quite good with the ladies back in the day," Bucky said, truthfully."When was the last time you even talked to a woman, huh?" Sam laughed, paying for the first round of drinks."About 70 years, give or take," Bucky muttered, as the bartender placed their drinks in front of them."Not much time for socializing between being a zombie and an ice cube, huh?" Sam teased.Bucky rolled his eyes and took a long sip of his drink.Sam noticed a girl settle next to Bucky and smirked to himself."Well, buddy, looks like it's time to introduce you to some 21st-century girls," Sam slapped Bucky's shoulder, causing him to stumble back and bump into the girl behind him.Bucky turned and looked at the girl with wide eyes, realizing he had startled her as she stared back at him in surprise.Bucky cleared his throat. "Sorry about that. My friend here is an idiot," he said, and the girl offered him a small smile."It's okay. I'm sorry to hear about your friend," she replied, laughing.Sam glanced between the two of them and muttered under his breath before turning back to watch the football game playing on the bar's screens.There was a brief pause until Bucky found something to say."So, do you come here often?" he asked, hearing an audible smack from behind him, which he assumed was Sam's disapproval of the cliché question."No, this is actually my first time here. I'm just passing through for work," she replied."What do you do for work?" Bucky inquired."Just boring business stuff," she smiled. "How about you let me buy you a drink, and I can tell you all about it?" she suggested."I'm all set, thank you," he replied, holding up his full glass."Next round, then?" she asked."How about the next round's on me?" Bucky proposed."Do you really think I should take a drink from a stranger at a bar?" she asked, hiding a smile behind the wine glass in her hand."And do you think I would take a drink from a strange woman at a bar?" he interrogated her with a smirk."Ah, he's not just a pretty face," she teased. "You've foiled my plan to drug you and have my way with you tonight."Sam kicked the back of Bucky's legs, reminding him that Sam was right behind him. Bucky smirked and took another sip from his glass."You don't need to drug me to do that," he teased.He extended his hand. "Bucky," he introduced himself.The girl took his hand in hers. "Harlow," she replied, a smile playing on her lips.